Sushma Swaraj passes away: 'Hours before demise, she had told me to collect Re 1 fee for Kulbhushan Jadhav Case', shares Harish Salve

Sushma Swaraj passed away on August 6, after suffering from cardiac arrest at New Delhi AIIMS hospital. She was taken to AIIMS at quarter to nine in a critical condition on Tuesday evening. Following her sudden demise, Advocate Harish Salve said that at 8:45 PM on August 6 she had called and asked her to take Re 1 fees for the Kulbhushan Jadhav Case at the ICJ. 

Sushma Swaraj was the facilitator for India to put up a strong and winning fight at the global forum of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case where India was represented by Advocate and former Solicitor General Harish Salve. On May 15, 2017, the Former External Affairs Minister while responding to a tweet questioning the expense India made in this case revealed that Salve was charging merely Re 1 to represent India in the Hague. 

READ: Kulbhushan Jadhav Case: Harish Salve charged Re 1 to lead India to victory at ICJ, even as Pakistan spent crores

Speaking to media after her demise, Salve said: "For me, SushmaSwaraj ji was an elder sister. I was simply stunned yesterday on hearing about her demise. At 8:45 pm I had a talk with her. She said 'you have to come&take your fees of Re.1 for Jadhav case'. Just 10 min post that, she had cardiac arrest."

Unlike governments of the past she intervened with alacrity, with fierceness and with a steely determination we hadn’t seen before. It resulted in India's big diplomatic victory in at ICJ where the Court called out Pakistan's violation of Vienna convention and allowed consular access to India. 

READ: Sushma Swaraj passes away: Syed Akbaruddin pays tribute, shares her memorable moments at the UN. Watch here

The former external affairs minister was not only known in the international platform for her magnificent work and oratory but also honoured for standing with all those who needed her. In her party, the BJP, Swaraj was known as a guiding force, and in her political career she is recalled for her political punches. Across party lines, she is honoured not only for being an able administrator, fiery speaker, but also one who respects her opponents.  

READ: Sushma Swaraj passes away: 6 times the former EAM exposed & isolated Pakistan, upheld India